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Research and innovation

European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)

What ERIC is, related documents, requirements and guidelines.

What is ERIC?

The European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) is a specific legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures with European interest.

The ERIC allows the establishment and operation of new or existing Research Infrastructures on a non-economic basis

The Commission provides practical guidelines to help potential applicants.

The ERIC becomes a legal entity from the date the Commission decision setting up the ERIC takes effect.

An ERIC can carry out some limited economic activities related to this task.

  • a legal capacity recognised in all EU countries
  • flexibility to adapt to specific requirements of each infrastructure
  • a faster process than creating an international organisation
  • exemptions from VAT and excise duty

An ERIC may adopt its own procurement procedures which have to respect the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and competition.

Requirements for an ERIC

  • it must be a European joint-venture (also allows the participation of countries from outside Europe)
  • the infrastructure is necessary to carry out research programmes and projects
  • it represents added-value in the development of the European Research Area (ERA) and significant improvement in the relevant scientific and technological fields
  • effective access is granted to the European research community in accordance with the rules established in the statutes
  • it contributes to the mobility of knowledge and/or researchers within the ERA
  • it contributes to the dissemination and optimisation of the results 

Procedures for establishing an ERIC

Procedures to obtain a formal commitment of a state to become a member or host an ERIC vary from country to country. The stakeholders of future ERICs are advised to work, well in advance, with their national authorities when preparing an ERIC.

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